PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – The tournament grind continues for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team with three games lined up at American University starting on Friday, September 1.
 
On the agenda for the Hawks are Marist at noon on Friday to kick off the tournament, then will take the home squad on at seven that night before rounding out the weekend at 2 p.m. against Central Connecticut State University on Saturday (September 2).
 
Catching Up with the Hawks
 
Coming off a loss to a hard-hitting Villanova team on Wednesday (August 30) in three sets, the Hawks are still holding their heads high early in the season with some solid performances as the rotations take shape.
 
Against the Wildcats Nkemjika Ikemefuna lead the way with seven kills in the starting rotation and Lyric Snowden was excellent off the bench with six kills in her first match since October 29, 2021 – which was also a career high. Charlize Williams and Derionah Abner mirrored their stats, each putting up five kills and assisting on a block with one another.
 
Romina Vacca and Anisa Dorlouis each had nine assists against Nova, Dorlouis also led in digs with eight.
 
On the season, Williams leads the Hawks with 35 kills and in blocks with 15, showing what made her second team All-MEAC last season. Behind Williams by one kill is Abner, with Ikemefuna being an all-around threat at third in kills, second in blocks and fourth in digs on the team.
 
On the back line Isil Yilmaz has been solid, with 51 digs and nine aces, which is tied for first in the MEAC.
 
Awaiting American and Friends
 
Three solid programs with American, Central Connecticut State and Marist in line this weekend during the American University Tournament.
 
First up for UMES is a Marist program that sits at a deceiving 0-3 following the Tennessee Classic, matched up against Texas Southern, UT Martin and the University of Tennessee.
 
Outside hitter Sasha van der Merwe led the Red Foxes during the weekend, earning the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week award after earning first team honors last season – averaging 4.40 kills per set and helping on the back line with 1.90 digs per set.
 
Marist was light at the net, being out blocked 35-7 during the tournament.
 
The nightcap for Friday will be the Hawks squared up with American, a familiar foe as during the 2022 season the Hawks fell in three sets Eagles in a midseason meeting, giving UMES a bit of fuel to take back-to-back conference wins in the next two games. The Hawks matched up well despite the box score, with American blocks being the deciding factor in clutch moments.
 
This season, American has played the Beltway with wins over George Washington and George Mason before falling to Georgetown in five sets at home last Sunday afternoon.
 
Up front the Eagles are led by outside hitter Zeynep Uzen, a transfer student hailing from Turkey with 53 kills over three matches. Outside's Holly Hopkins and Adelina Berisha round out the attack with over thirty points each.
 
Nearly every American kill has been aided by setter Esma Sipahi, notching 122 of 143 total assists.
 
On the defensive side Stegmeman leads the team in blocks with ten, Carlie Fisk just behind at nine. Bridget Javitch has been working the libero role at 69 digs and Sipahi trails at 34.
 
So far in 2023 the Blue Devils' season hasn't started ideally, with CCSU taking just one set in four matches thus far.
 
Mia Lombardo and Weronika Poczynek lead offensively with 37 and 32 kills each, although senior Isabelle Roufs has been the most efficient in her 25 kills with a .327 attack percentage.
 
At the front line the Hawks should be able to take advantage of a soft Blue Devil group that has combined for just 16 total this season. Lauren Milani leads the team with 40 digs and four others have over 20; Milani also leads the team with six aces.
 
How to Follow
 
The Friday evening match with American will be streamed live on ESPN+ for subscribers, a link is available on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore athletic department website. Live Stats for all three matches will be provided by American University and updates, as always, will be available on Twitter via @ESHawksVBall.